CROWDED HOLIDAY HIGHWAYS

Fewer Americans will be taking to the skies this holiday season, leading to highways that will be more crowded than usual. With more vehicles driving longer distances, safe driving habits are more important this year than ever, according to highway safety experts at the American Insurance Association (AIA). David Snyder, AIA assistant general counsel, said whether as a result of the country’s recent national tragedy, a tightening economy, or cheaper gasoline, people that in years past would have flown to be with their family for the holidays will be driving instead. Snyder said that means that more people will be driving longer distances for longer hours—making safe and alert driving more important than ever. A survey released recently by The Hartford found that while Americans are not canceling their travel plans this holiday season, they are planning to drive more and fly less. Twenty-three percent of those surveyed said they planned to drive more for recreation in the next two months.